The scene opens out onto one of the media interview rooms in the HWA Academy. (Vanessa): Welcome one and all to this special sit down interview, exclusive to the HWA YouTube channel. This is of course part of the build up to our first PPV in eight years, ‘Art of War’, coming to you from the Amway Center in sunny Florida on August 19th! Off camera, the sound of cheers and clapping can be heard. Vanessa smiles at this, flicking her hair to one side as she does so and shuffling some notes she has. (Vanessa): I’m sitting across from my husband, Hans, who you all know as ‘The Baron’. He’s fresh off his victory against Maniac at Havoc and he’ll be facing Jeremy Branson at ‘Art of War’. With that, the camera pans round revealing Hans, casually attired and sitting comfortably in a mirror of the chair Vanessa is seated in. (Vanessa): So, I’m going to ask a question or two, let him ramble on a bit and… A sound of outrage comes from off camera, clearly from Hans, mixed in with laughter from others off camera. (Vanessa): … then ask him a few questions that you, the fans have put to him. She smiles at Hans. (Vanessa): Ready? (Hans): Jah, I guess. (Vanessa): So, I know this, as you were telling me it in the car ride over here, but explain to our viewers just what this match means to you. You were talking about where you were in your career and how it’s different now to when you first came into the HWA. A deep breath from Hans, recalling what he was talking about earlier in the day to his wife and trying to assemble it coherently. (Hans): To paraphrase somewhat, entschuldigung, I forget who said it first… A brief pause, as if collecting his memories. (Hans): Someone once said of the difference between Triple H and the Undertaker, that both men were on mountains, high above the rest. Triple H would throw rocks down to stop anyone else getting to the top of the mountain he was on, while the Undertaker would reach down and help up the others so that they could enjoy the view with him. Another pause, Hans thinking on what he’s said, going to speak, catching himself a moment, before slowly continuing. (Hans): Ich bin nicht… erm… I’m not comparing myself to either of those men. The description of the latter sounds better to my ears however. I’m older, I’ve still got it, jah, I might not be vaulting off ropes like Sean Parker… not that I ever did anyway, but you get the idea… Chuckling, he smiles at his wife behind the camera. (Hans): I feel that I’ve actually got something worth teaching now though. It’s nice to give back. If I’m being honest, it’s a two way street, jah… I see new things every day. Not just from being able to be around Matthew. The students, they come from all over. Everyone’s backgrounds are different, it’s a melting pot of ideas and skills. Glancing off camera for a second to one side, Hans smiles, turning back to carry on. (Hans): When I spoke with Chris van Vliet a few weeks ago, he asked me what I thought of the talent that kept HWA going, Jeremy being one of them. Ich fühle stolz… I feel pride. Those were my words. It’s more than that though, it’s a sense of gratitude towards them, that they kept the light on and helped it burn brighter than ever. Tapping his chest, he continues. (Hans): I want to give him a match for the ages. I want to go into my arsenal and bring out holds unt transitions, blocks unt moves that he’s not seen me do for too long. Jeremy’s a fan of the video library in the Academy. A gentle smile forms, Hans leaning in as if letting in on a secret. (Hans): Ich möchte him in there for days preparing, Ich möchte him sick of the place by the time he’s done… Glancing over his shoulder, as if checking he’s not been overheard, he carries on. (Hans): I want Matthew to be kicking down the door to the room and having to drag him out for his own good. Another laugh, Hans leaning back in his chair. Off camera, further laughs can be heard. (Hans): Nein, nein, ich scherze, ich scherze. Crossing his hands on his lap, he looks into the camera. (Hans): This will be a sehr gut example of what Butch and Wisdom want the HWA to be. Jeremy is a talent, he showed that when he beat Will Ospreay. He’s come up against some quality talent in his other matches unt jah, results may not have gone his way, but he’s gotten back to his feet and chipped away at the rough edges. He’s a sponge for information. I was half joking when I said I want him in there for days preparing, because he could very well unlock me, as it were. Shoulders rising slightly, an intrigued expression flits over Hans’ face. (Hans): Wouldn’t that be something, jah? (Vanessa): Nicely said honey. Next up, we have some questions that have been sent in. She shuffles a few cue cards on her lap, picking them up and reading from the top one. (Vanessa): So Vanessa asks… Hans cuts across. (Hans): Vanessa? Vanessa asks…? (Vanessa): Let me read the question in full please honey, don’t interrupt. Mouthing silently the same thing as he’s just uttered, Hans brings a smile to Vanessa, as she carries on. (Vanessa): So, Vanessa asks, how did it feel to beat Maniac? By this point, chuckling with amusement, Hans takes a second to answer, shaking his head from side to side as a wide grin forms as his wife looks back at him as professionally as possible. (Hans): Well… Vanessa... is it Vanessa from New York by any chance? (Vanessa): It doesn’t say, actually. The last word is stressed, the smile still there though. (Hans): Well, Vanessa, jah, it was good to come back into the HWA with a win. All the better that it happened over Herr Chaos. He’s been causing all kinds of problems for those in the Academy, such as Jeremy, so it was good to take it to him. (Vanessa): Can you believe that you last faced one another 13 years ago? (Hans): Nein, I can’t… it, er, it actually completely slipped my mind that we’d fought before. I had to look back at the archives myself, but jah, there it was. Lucas Valentine, myself and Herr Chaos. I don’t recall getting as many cheap shots against me in that match though as I did in this one, so… He trails off, shrugging. (Vanessa): Well we have Marcus who tweeted in, who walks away from your match versus Red Dragon as the winner? (Hans): I don’t think it’s about that… it’s, jah, it’s more than that. It’s about celebrating my friend’s accomplishments and, similar to what this match with Jeremy is about, it’s a fair competition between two athletes for the love of the sport. Do I want to win? Jah. Always. Vanessa cuts across him. (Vanessa): Marcus, we played board games last Christmas, he lost. We’re apparently never doing it again.. He’s the most sour loser ever, so trust me, he will want to win. (Hans): You cheated mein schatz. (Vanessa): No, I read the rules, you didn’t. That’s not my fault. Anyway, get on with the answer honey. Arms going wide in response, he’s speechless for a time, Vanessa tapping her watch to get him to get on with it. (Hans): … He clears his throat, adjusting himself in his chair, trying to compose himself, throwing a dagger of a glare at his wife to the sound of more laughter off camera. (Hans): Sheiße… it’s a coin toss, there, that’s my answer. (Vanessa): Not quite the answer you were looking for I’m sure Marcus, but you’ll have your answer one way or another sure. So, next up, Annie asks, what are the chances of your brother coming out of retirement and you two teaming up for the tag titles when they come back? (Hans): Hah, that’s easy to answer. No chance, mein bruder ist far too happily retired. (Vanessa): What’s the phrase? ‘Never say never’, no? (Hans): It won't happen. When Heinrich gets something in his head, it’s not shifting. (Vanessa): Ok, next up. Tom asks, is there anyone on the roster, past or present that you’d want to face if you could pick, and if so, why? Tapping his chin a few times in a thoughtful manner, Hans leans to one side in his chair, crossing his legs as he does so. (Hans): I’d have to say I’d want to face Buff Bridges. We didn’t get that third match, so to make it a trilogy, that would be nice… jah, that would be my choice. (Vanessa): And finally, Claire asks, what’s next for you after this first match? (Hans): One match at a time, let’s not get ahead of myself. Ich habe Herr Branson to face, he deserves and will get my focus. There’s a lot that I don’t have control over as well, so I’ll have to take it as it comes. With that, the camera pans back around to Vanessa. (Vanessa): Well thank you to everyone that sent in their questions. Don’t worry if yours didn’t get asked on this show, we’ll be taking more of them and using them across our other media over the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for that. She looks behind the camera, smiling at something going on behind the view. (Vanessa): Anyway, this is just part one of this particular interview. We thought we’d do something a little bit special since it’s not often our wrestlers are keen to be in the same room as one another when they have a match at the next show. So it gives me great pleasure to have someone else join us today, someone who’s had to sit through Hans talk about him, but now's his chance to turn the tables and have my husband keep quiet while he does so… please welcome Jeremy Branson! The camera pans around and this time zooms out, revealing another chair sat close to Hans, occupied by Jeremy, who takes his turn to give a wave to the camera. (Vanessa): Join us in part two in our exclusive build up to the ‘Art of War’ and remember to like and subscribe for more exclusive content from the HWA! The scene fades out to black.
Sitting in a comfortable leather chair is Vanessa von Richtoven, already facing the camera and ready to go.
He raises a hand in greeting to the camera, as it tracks back the way it came to rest upon Vanessa.
Vanessa barely bats an eyelid though her eyes do twinkle at the reaction she’s caused
One arm waves as if pushing his own last words away.
Behind the camera, further cheers and claps can be heard, mirroring Hans’ own actions in view, before he leans across, shaking Jeremy’s outstretched hand.
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